Believing is Seeing
'Believe'
...all the t-shirts and wall hangings share the same actual word this time of the season, and if you are like me at all, my thought process usually goes something like, "Yes, wouldn't that be nice...if only it were true." My next thought is to try to capture a little of the feeling that comes with that magical thought. Do you go through anything like this, or is it just me?
IF only....
It was placed somewhere deep in our hearts...all of our hearts. The hope of believing has gone back for centuries... I know it has. Because, it's been written about in ancient texts. I've read some.
One man's son was really sick. He had probably tried everything he could to help the ailing child, and by the time we read his words from long ago, we can relate...he's tired, he's skeptical, life has pulled him down. "My son has been really, really sick since childhood, but IF you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." - Mark 9:23
Another man in another ancient diary was sick himself, with a debilitating illness for years - he also used the word, 'if'. "Lord, the man said, "IF you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."- Matthew 8:2
IF you can....
IF you are willing...
Two sentences using the same word, but two totally different belief systems on 'believing'...
... did you catch it?
One says, "I don't really believe, but I guess I'll give it a shot. I've got nothing to lose, I guess."
The other -"I do believe you can- it's just a matter of if you want to."
To the first man, Jesus replied, "What do you mean, 'if I can'?" Anything is POSSIBLE if a person believes." The man replied, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
To the second man, Jesus reached out and touched the infected, contagious man, and said, "I am willing. Be clean!"
The gift of this whole 'believing' thing is this...
He healed them both.
So, it's not whether or not I can believe, but what/Who I choose to believe in.
I'll see it when I believe it.
Looks like it's going to be a year of wonderment, after all.